Sixty three year-old LAUSD teacher Mark Berndt has been charged with 23 counts of lewd acts on children. Berndt allegedly regularly told children they were going to play a “tasting game”, then blindfolded them and in some cases put tape over their mouths. He then fed students a “milky” substance on a spoon and on top of cookies. Later DNA testing confirmed that this substance was indeed Berndt’s own semen. He also ran cockroaches over the faces and mouths of the children. Berndt took pictures of these encounters, according to USA Today.

Berndt is going to keep getting his benefits – and he even kept his job back in 1993 when he was first charged with molestation. And he got a $40K payment so that he would retire. How did all this happen? Because of rules that the teachers’ union bartered for – the same union that is now supporting ultra-liberal Democratic Assembly candidate Julio Perez, who is running for the 69th A.D.

Since Berndt got arrested we have found out about a lot more molester teachers in L.A., where most of Perez’ donations come from. The teachers’ union has made it almost impossible for parents to find out about these behaviors. They cover up everything. Do you think Perez is going to stand up for parents’ rights when he is being supported by the same teachers’ union that covers up for molesters – and gets them lifetime benefits even when they get arrested?

Do you think we can trust Perez? No way. He is a lifetime union shill. We need legislators who will stand up to the unions and do what is right for California’s children and families. That is simply not Perez.

Leading 69th A.D. candidate and Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez grew up in Santa Ana’s public schools and she went on to get a college degree despite having to deal with dyslexia. She is exactly the type of leader we need in Sacramento and she is a role model for kids in town who are also suffering through hard times. The fact that she made it is an inspiration to our young people.

The previous commenter doesn’t know a dang thing about politics. If a candidate is going to be responsible for everything an endorsing person or organization does, when will admin ask Michele to repudiate Pulido’s endorsement? That guy is a walking ethics violation. The same for Assemblyman Roger Hernandez.

Plus, nearly all of Michele Martinez’s supporters in the Assembly are gay marriage supporters. How will that play in a district that voted overwhelmingly for Prop. 8?